Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/929711
maltatoday SUNDAY 21 JANUARY 2018 This Week 41 My Fair Lady is a popular musical that continues to enjoy plenty of "cultural coverage" all over. What convinced you to participate in this particular version, and how do you hope your cast and crew will make it fresh and unique this time around? It's a classic and everyone loves it. On The Street Where You Live is the song that Freddy sings and it was the first audi- tion song that I learnt. So when I finally had the chance to audi- tion to sing it in the full musical I jumped at the chance. Plus, working with Maxine Aquilina, Denise Mulholland, Edward Mercieca and the rest of the cast is a dream! Can you tell us about the character you'll be playing, and are there any traits of his you'll particularly enjoy embodying? Freddy is such a hopeless ro- mantic and not terribly lucky with his pursuits! His comedy comes from his being so daz- zled by Eliza. He's writing letters to her and hanging outside her door – nowadays he'd be slapped with a restraining order! What do you make of the local theatrical scene? What would you change about it? We're so lucky here. People often ask me if I miss acting in London. With such a massive au- dience and, as a result, huge budg- ets, shows there will obviously be larger and of a higher quality but we're so close here without even being full-time. I feel so lucky to have gone from Ernest and the Pale Moon in November to The Comedy Knights in December to this and next on to Mamma Mia in April without stopping for breath. The variety here is so rich that you can spend your entire season in rehearsals with occasional stops to perform the actual shows. It makes it so much fun, constantly working on new material. What's next for you? I'll be playing Sky in Mamma Mia in April followed by a long break. Mamma Mia is such good fun, I'm sure audiences are going to love it! My Fair Lady, adapted from 'Pygmalion' by Bernard Shaw with music by Frederick Lowe and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, will be directed by Denise Mulholland for FM Theatre pro- ductions, with musical direction by Kris Spiteri and choreography by Emma Loftus. The show will be staged at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta on February 2, 3 (20:00) and 4 (15:00, 19:30). The rest of the cast includes Maxine Aquilina as Eliza Dolittle, Tony Edridge as Henry Higgings, Edward Mer- ceica as Col. Pickering and Alan Paris as Alfie Doolittle. Bookings: mcc.com.mt Living the dream Actor Thomas Camilleri speaks to TEODOR RELJIC about taking on the role of Freddie Eynsford-Hill in FM Theatre's upcoming production of the beloved musical My Fair Lady – taking place in early February at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta Thomas Camilleri Maxine Aquilina as Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady Eighteen projects headline Teatru Malta programme Teatru Malta programme launched in line with Valletta 2018 celebrations, promising "a programme aimed at everyone" TEATRU Malta was launched in 2017 and throughout that year it organised activities aimed to listen to the community, cre- ate work and most importantly learn. The programme boasts 18 projects, including twelve theatrical productions, an op- era for children (Il-Qtates Ta' max-Xatt) and an operetta (Il- Madonna tiegħi aħjar minn tiegħek) dealing with our local feasts. The productions are all varied with themes ranging from boxing to the exploration of bird song. "Teatru Malta's programme is helping to achieve this gov- ernment's goal when it comes to its cultural strategy. With its programme aimed for everyone, culture and the arts are more accessible to the community. Teatru Malta was a necessary step for our cultural sphere. We believe that this programme is proof that we as Maltese take our theatre very seriously. We are working with professionals; the communities, in the periph- ery and spaces. We are mak- ing sure our theatre is relevant and excellent. It is my pleasure to support this programme," Culture Minister Owen Bon- nici said during the programme launch for Teatru Malta earlier this week. "Eighteen projects for 2018. Teatru Malta is definitely start- ing on a high." The National Theatre also joins the long list of initiatives that are indebted to the European Capital of Cul- ture for their willingness to col- laborate with entities such as Teatru Malta. We worked hand in hand in producing projects with band clubs, schools and a large-scale project in Gozo. We look forward to Teatru Malta's first programme," Valletta 2018 Chairman Jason Micallef added. "The Arts Council is proud of the first programme of Te- atru Malta. We believe that this programme is challenging the boundaries of theatre in Malta. This was the reason we wanted Teatru Malta, this was the rea- son we wanted a national theatre with no walls, no doors but with lots and lots of energy," Chair of Arts Council Malta Annabelle Stivala Attard said. "Teatru Malta was once just an initiative on paper; now this pro- gramme brings the whole idea to life," said Sean Buhagiar, the artistic director of Teatru Malta which was launched at Teatru Pandora, Zejtun to a selection of Malta's theatrical practitioners. "This is our first programme, a programme in which we hope everyone will find something for them whether it be entertaining, disturbing, enthralling or amaz- ing. Here, we believe that thea- tre can make us all be better hu- man beings. Let's hope we play our part," Buhagiar added. A number of collaborations have been set up by Teatru Mal- ta for this programme includ- ing entities such as the British Council, Malta Football Asso- ciation, Spazju Kreattiv, Teatru Manoel, MADC, the CRPD, Valletta 2018 and many others. Besides this Teatru Malta is also collaborating with over 20 inter- national artists during the pro- gramme. Teatru Malta will also be vis- iting a number of locations not normally associated with theat- rical productions namely the five regions of Malta in spaces such as the National Stadium, Mount Carmel Community Theatre, każini, band clubs, schools, also including large-scale summer production in Gozo. For more information on Te- atru Malta's programme, visit www.teatrumalta.org.mt or call 21220255 From left: Annabelle Stivala Attard, Owen Bonnici, Sean Buhagiar and Jason Micallef